From left, Ken Johnson plays the Grand Inquisitor, Rebecca Fondiler is Cunegonde and Mark Suarez plays Martin in Conejo Players Theatre's production of "Candide," on stage through April 15 in Camarillo.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Playgoers don’t have to be familiar with Voltaire, the 18th-century philosopher and satirist, to appreciate the Conejo Players’ production of a modernized, musical version of his “Candide.”

While there’s a lot of Voltaire’s pessimistic view of the world wrapped in the show, the stage production adapted by Hugh Wheeler does more to emphasize the whimsical humor in the tale than the satirist’s more trenchant tendencies. The updated work benefits by being a more palatable approach to the material for contemporary theater-goers not already familiar with the philosophical tale. Along the way, such forces as playwright Lillian Hellman, who was one of the promoters of an early staged operetta along with the intrigued composer-conductor Leonard Bernstein, saw their focus on the material come alive in 1956, but not for long.

Still, the idea persisted, ultimately resulting in the 1999 reworking that appeared at London’s Royal National Theatre with a new book by director John Caird. That’s the version now on stage in Thousand Oaks. A handsome multi-use set provides the background for the travels and travails the young Candide ultimately experiences after being pushed out of a plush life into a complex world.

Director Dick Johnson, a Conejo Players veteran, has designed more than 53 CP productions and directed about half that number, along the way accruing a raft of awards for his work. His program notes indicate a familiarity with “Candide” beginning in his university days and continuing to the present. Bringing an understanding of the “best of all possible worlds” philosophy that Candide ultimately embraces, as well as Voltaire’s trenchant view of it, he is the ideal person to guide the production.

From left, Ken Johnson plays the Grand Inquisitor, Rebecca Fondiler is Cunegonde and Mark Suarez plays Martin in Conejo Players Theatre's production of "Candide," on stage through April 15 in Camarillo.(Photo: CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Adding to the ever-changing scenes are production illustrator John Eslick’s visuals projected as a backdrop for the stage action. The cast itself is uniformly dressed in casual black attire, sometimes with baseball caps imprinted with “The best of all possible worlds.” Accompaniment for the nearly nonstop singing of some 30 songs is vigorously provided by an offstage orchestra conducted by music director David Watkins.

Central rolls are played by Jonathan Markham as Candide; Rebecca Fondiler as Cunegonde, Candide’s romantic interest; and Jim Seerden as Voltaire/Pangloss.
Markham brings a fittingly earnest quality to the role and sings with the simple innocence the role suggests, while Fondiler dazzles with a lovely soprano voice with extensive range. Seerden’s role is the interlinking commentary about the play’s fast-changing situations, and he fills it exceptionally well.

Among others whose voices stand out in a cast uniformly fit for the show’s vocal demands are Marisa Miculian as Old Woman and Corona de los Santos as Cacambo, the aide who joins Candide in South America, one of the hero’s many stops around the world. De los Santos’ outstanding voice is first distinctly heard in the first act quartet finale. Fortunately, it also reverberates in several second-act moments.

“Candide” is definitely an ensemble show, so all of the vocalists, and actors, deserve a mention. Also adding their voices to the production are veterans Ken Johnson and John Barker, Andy Brasted, Mark Suarez, Laura Barrows, Sy Patnode, Brittany Danyel and Alexander Schottky.

Rita Moran can be reached at rita.j.moran@gmail.com.

If you go

What: Conejo Players’ production of "Candide," the John Caird version of the show with music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Richard Wilbur and others, and adapted by Hugh Wheeler from the 1759 satire by VoltaireWhen: 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays, through April 15Where:351 S. Moorpark Road, Thousand OaksCost: $20 or $18 for students, military and seniorsTickets and Information: 495-3715 or www.conejoplayers.org